# NTSB DEN00LA027: Cessna 182R, N9616H, Farmington, NM, December 14, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 14, 1999, 16:20 local (23:20 UTC)
- Place: Farmington, NM
- Coordinates: 36.750118, -108.179725 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7501&lon=-108.1797&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 48520
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA027
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48520/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA027

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning, and his improper inflight decision to not land and refuel, which resulted in fuel exhaustion.

## Analysis

On a cross-country flight that was on a route the pilot flew often as a non-stop trip, the airplane encountered constant head winds that reduced ground speed to about 90 knots.  After 6 hours and 50 minutes of flight, the pilot made the decision to land at an airport short of his destination for fuel.  According to the pilot, when the airplane was about 35 miles short of the intended fuel stop, the engine lost all power due to fuel exhaustion and he conducted a forced landing to rough uneven terrain.  During landing roll, the aircraft nosed over.

## Factual narrative

On December 14, 1999, at 1620 mountain standard time (MST), a Cessna 182R, N9616H, made a forced landing approximately 35 miles southeast of Farmington, New Mexico.  The private pilot and his passenger were not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this cross-country flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91.  The flight originated from San Marcos, Texas, at 0930 MST with a planned destination of Durango, Colorado.  No flight plan was filed.

According to the pilot, he had flown the route on frequent occasions and the fuel burn usually was between 65 and 72 gallons from San Marcos to Durango.  The aircraft held 96 gallons useable fuel and the pilot said the fuel tanks were "topped off" before departure.  On this trip, he noted that the headwinds were constant and that he was averaging about 90 knots ground speed.  He said that he made the decision to land at Farmington for fuel and was approximately 35 miles southeast of the Farmington airport when the engine lost all power due to fuel exhaustion.  The flight had been airborne for 6 hours and 50 minutes when fuel exhaustion occurred.

The pilot said that the terrain was rough and uneven and the aircraft nosed over during landing roll.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven
  - terrain condition - none suitable

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9616H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9616H-2000-10-05), registration cancelled 2000-10-05, S/N 18267973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 182R
- Registry model: [Cessna 182R](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182r) (registry code 2072731) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1826793
- Airframe hours: 1481
- Engines: Continental O-470-U 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Bobby Lynn Bixler
- Registered owner: Rce Of Austin, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 28, 1998
- Departed: HYI, SAN MARCOS, TX
- Destination: DRO, DURANGO, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,549 total, 1,426 in this make and model, 1,447 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 3 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: FMN, 35 nm away

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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From OpenAirDocs.org, an independent open copy of NTSB and FAA data. The NTSB's own report is the official record of an investigation.